Alias, thought I, what aventures Han these sory creatures, For they amonges al the pres, Shul thus be shamed gilteles I But what! hyt moste nedes be. What dide this Eolus, but he Toke out hys blake trumpe of bras, That fouler than the Devel was, And gan this trumpe for to blowe, As al the worlde shuld overthrowe. That thrughout every regioun Wente this foule trumpes soun, As swifte as pelet out of gonne, Whan fire is in the poudre ronne. And suche a smoke gan out-wende, Out of his foule trumpes ende, Blak, bloo, grenyssh, swarte, rede, As doth where that men melte lede, Loo, alle on high fro the tuelle !1 And therto oo thing saugh I welle, That the ferther that hit ran, The gretter wexen hit began, As dooth the ryver from a welle, And hyt stank as the pitte of helle. Alias, thus was her shame yronge, And giltelesse, on every tonge. Tho come the thridde companye, . And gunne up to the dees to hye, And doun on knes they fille anoon, 1 Funnel "HYS Trumpe Of GOLDE." 6i And seyde, "We ben everychoon 570 Folke that han ful truelly Deservede fame ryghtfully, And praye yow hit mot be knowe, Ryght as hit is, and forth y-blowe." "I graunte," quod she, "for me leste That now youre good werkes be wiste; And yet ye shul han better loos, In dispite of alle your foos, Than worthy is, and that anoon: Late now," quod she, "thy trumpe goon, 580 Thou Eolus, that is so blake; And out thyn other trumpe take That highte Laude, and blowe yt soo That thrugh the worlde her fame goo, Esely and not to faste, That hyt be knowen atte laste." "Ful gladly, lady myn," he seyde; And oute hys trumpe of golde he brayde Anoon, and set hyt to his mouthe, And blew it est, and west, and southe, 590 And northe, as lowde as any thunder, That every wight hath of hit wonder, So brode hyt ran or than hit stynte. And, certes, al the breth that wente Out of his trumpes mouthe smelde As men a potte ful of bawme1 helde Amonge a basket ful of roses; This favour dide he til her loses.1 1 Balm. To their ^raises. And ryght with this I gan aspye, Ther come the ferthe companye, — 600 But certeyn they were wonder fewe, — And gunne stonden in a rewe, And seyden, "Certes, lady bryghte, We han doon wel with al our myghte, But we ne kepen have no fame. Hide our werkes and our name, For Goddys love! for certes we Han certeyn doon hyt for bounte,1 And for no maner other thinge." "I graunte yow alle your askynge," 610 Quod she; "let your werkes be dede." With that aboute I clywe2 myn hede, And saugh anoon the fifte route That to this lady gunne loute,* And doun on knes anoon to falle; And to hir thoo besoughten alle, To hiden her goode werkes eke, And seyden, they geven noght a leke For no fame, ne suche renoun; For they for contemplacioun, 620 And Goddes love, hadde y-wrought, Ne of fame wolde they nought. "What?" quod she, "and be ye woode ?* And wene ye for to doo goode, And for to have of that no fame? Have ye dispite to have my name? Nay, ye shul lyen everychoon I 1 Goodness. * Turned. 'Bow. 4 Mai. "NEITHER THAT NE THIS." Blowe thy trumpes and that anoon," Thoo come the sexte companye, * Named. 'Desires. * Although. 'Witness (Fr. Umeim) That wommen loven us for wode.1 Hyt shal doon us a moche goode, And to our herte as moche avaylle The countrepese, ese, and travaylle, 660 As we had wonne hyt with labour; For that is dere boght honour, At regard of oure grete ese. And yet thou most us more plese; Let us be holden, eke therto, Worthy, wise, and goode also, And riche, and happy unto love. For Goddes love that sit above, Thogh we may not the body have Of wymmen, yet, so God yow save! 670 Leet men gliwe2 on us the name; Sufficeth that we han the fame." "I graunte," quod she, "be my trouthe! Thoo come the seventh route anoon. 1 Madly. 'Fasten. • Bondage (leash). |